Further to the debate about whether bikes are fired up on the production line ...

.... I've just read an article from Cycle World in 1994.

apparently:

A GL1500 takes 2.5 hours to build, about the same as a Civic.

There are 34 processes, timed at 5 minutes each.

Each bike has around 2000 parts, the same as an Accord.

Job #1 is fitting the wiring loom to the frame, then engine, tank,
cooling sytem, swing-arm.

Then it's front end, air box, clutch and brake systems.

Then bodywork. Back to front. Fairing last.

Then it's ridden off the line under its own power.

Then the stereo goes on, as does the windshield.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..81750../..22169.../..31893.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 23 Pts: 440 Miles:1738

 

At 2am in the morning!
Are you an insomniac?

 

I suppose it's better than 2am in the afternoon.

 

I think you'll find plenty of the regular posters have problems with
sleeping.

 

Regular readers dont.

 

*Excellent*

--
Krusty
www.MuddyStuff.co.uk
Off-Road Classifieds

'02 MV Senna '03 Tiger 955i '96 Tiger '79 Fantic Hiro 250

 

Six forty-four? Have you got a paper round, or something?
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..81750../..22169.../..31893.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 23 Pts: 440 Miles:1738

 

NAHAY?

 

I must have missed the original thread [1] but IME, the Italians only
run the bikes at the end of the fitting process. The engines are built
up first (one person [2] per unit) and once assembled they are
spun up for compression testing. Any units which fail at this point
are examined and fixed before testing again.

The bike is then assembled fully before being run on a dyno at
the end of the line to check for full power across the range. Any
duff ones are sent to the Germans.

[1] are you pulling legs again, SD?
[2] actually, most are assembled by women due to their
better ability to handle the small components - this is a
long story tied in with the closure of the La Perla lacy
underwear factory in town and the gubmint forcing Ducati
to take on all the (women) workers. They found that their
skills with the intricate lacework transferred perfectly to
the engine assembly, and this remains today. [3]
[3] this is probably more interesting than the rest of this post

 

Nope !

P.

 

And all the line workers get an earful of "Boogie Nights".

 

One needs to get up early to read the drivel before anyone else...

 

That's when I usually get the bus in the morning.

 

Having tried to remove <insert any specific component> from some bikes you
get the distinct impression that the manufacturing process goes something
like...

1. Start with <insert specific component>
2. Build the rest of the m/c around said component to make it as difficult
as possible to remove.

The item that comes to mind for me would be the battery from a Suzuki
Intruder but I'm sure there are many more...

 

TBH, the bit about assembling engines being fiddly sounds suspect, to
say the least.

Switchgear I could understand.

Hmm. I wonder what the Italian for "pingfuckit" is?

 

On the BMW xxxLT line it's "Charge of the Valkyries"

 

If you'd owned a GL1500, you'd know of about a dozen more already.

Brake pipe from pedal to front left caliper is a goody, as is brake
pipe to rear caliper.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..81750../..22169.../..31893.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 23 Pts: 440 Miles:1738

 

Or "BMW Blues".

 

'strue, honest.

Ducati only assemble the engine at the factory, everything else
is bought in, including switchgear.

I reckon "pingfuckit" translates at "pingafuckitti".

 

ShiteOldBoxer batteries.

Yamaha XS650 electronic ignition modules.

ShiteOldGuzzi air filters.

Any Honda V4 - the centre valve adjusters on the rear cylinder bank.